Standing smartly on three cast-iron legs, Le Petit Bateau is a replica of an antique child’s bath found on a research trip by Catchpole & Rye in a château in northern France. The bath is made to order at the company’s workshop in Kent and can be painted in any colour with optional spots or stripes. For the truly princely child, there is a crystal-studded version available too.

This retro-style baby bath from award-winning brand Hoppop is redolent of a 1920s nursery. The metal stand folds away after use, with a towel rail neatly built into the design. The bath comes in grey or violet and has insulated sides to keep the water a friendly temperature; a thermo-sensitive bath plug also indicates if it gets too hot.

British brand Anorak has a menagerie of simple animal motifs – bears, robins, rabbits, stags – on soft, 100 per cent cotton towels, available in a variety of sizes. For bright, hammam-style cotton striped foutas in child proportions, try Febronie (£21, www.febronie.com); there are several colourways and all are made in Tunisia. They (reputedly) get softer with use.